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狷 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
狷juànrash, irritable, impulsive, impetuousx, 10 strokes, radical 犭
狷juànupright (character)unknown, 10 strokes, radical 犭
juàn(juan4) T4
  1. 1rash, irritable, impulsive, impetuous
  2. 2upright (character)
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

狷(獧)juàn(juan4)

The character 狷 (juàn) describes a personality trait characterized by rashness, irritability, and impulsiveness. It can also connote a sense of uprightness in character, often implying a straightforwardness that may lead to hasty decisions. Commonly used in literary contexts, it reflects a strong emotional response rather than a calm or measured approach.

Strokes10Radical犭
Cultural Note

In traditional Chinese thought, character and personality are highly valued, often viewed through the lens of Confucian ideals. The concept of being 'upright' yet 'rash' reflects the tension in striving for moral integrity while dealing with emotional impulses.

Memory Tip

Imagine a 'rushed' lion (the radical 狼 represents animals), whose impulsive actions lead it to make brash decisions in the wild. The lion's 'rushed' personality helps you remember that 'juàn' sounds like 'juant' — think of a lion that can’t 'wait' to pounce, embodying rashness.

Meanings of 狷

juàn(juan4)
1rash, irritable, impulsive, impetuous
2upright (character)
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 狷

狷Simplified
獧Traditional
10Strokes
犭Radical
非语素字non-morpheme character (n-m.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 狷

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Podcast: 狷

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AI Study Notes for 狷

Usage Notes

Learners often confuse 狷 with similar characters that denote different aspects of personality. Make sure to use this term in contexts discussing character traits rather than physical actions. It is more common in literary or formal registers.

HSK Study Tips

Though not included in the HSK, understanding 狷 can deepen your grasp of character descriptions in advanced texts. Focus on its emotional implications and how it contrasts with more stable traits, as it can enhance your vocabulary for discussing personality in detail.

Common Mistakes

Learners sometimes confuse 狷 with characters that imply calmness or steadiness, like 温 (wēn, warm). For instance, saying '他是个温的人' (He is a warm person) when they mean to imply impulsiveness leads to misunderstanding; the correct phrase would be '他是个狷的人.'

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 狷

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Etymology of 狷

Formation Typepictophonetic
六书 ClassificationPhono-semantic (形声字)~80-90% of characters
Memory Hint

dog

Semantic (meaning)犭
+
Phonetic (sound)肙
Learn more about Phono-semantic (形声字) characters

Jason Etymology Detective

Case file: 狷

  1. 1The meaning half犭 carries the sense.
  2. 2The sound half肙 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
  3. 3The giveawaydog
  4. 4On the record aspictophonetic.

Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.

Want the full history of 狷? Jason searches the paleographic record, weighs the competing accounts and judges the popular story.

Charged once for this character — everyone reads it afterwards.
Exercise 1 of 1

Character Formation Type

What type of character formation is 狷?

Decomposition of 狷

IDS Structure⿰犭肙
狷Full Character
=
犭quan3
left
肙yuan4
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 狷?

How to say rash, irritable, impulsive, impetuous in Chinese

“rash, irritable, impulsive, impetuous” in Chinese is狷juàn

The character 狷 (juàn) describes a personality trait characterized by rashness, irritability, and impulsiveness. It can also connote a sense of uprightness in character, often implying a straightforwardness that may lead to hasty decisions. Commonly used in literary contexts, it reflects a strong emotional response rather than a calm or measured approach.

When to use 狷

Learners often confuse 狷 with similar characters that denote different aspects of personality. Make sure to use this term in contexts discussing character traits rather than physical actions. It is more common in literary or formal registers.

What learners get wrong

Learners sometimes confuse 狷 with characters that imply calmness or steadiness, like 温 (wēn, warm). For instance, saying '他是个温的人' (He is a warm person) when they mean to imply impulsiveness leads to misunderstanding; the correct phrase would be '他是个狷的人.'

Write 狷

狷

Practice writing 狷 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.

Write correctly 3 times to earn XP

Word Family of 狷

Words Containing This Character1
狷juànnimble獧
Exercise 1 of 1

Compound Meaning

What does 狷 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 狷

It's commonly used in literary contexts to describe characters or individuals with impulsive traits.

Jason Recommends

Not sure what to learn after 狷?

Jason picks three words from your level and explains why each one is worth your time next. It takes a free account so he knows what you already know.